Inductively Charged Battery Pack

1. A battery pack configured for receiving inductive energy for charging a battery, comprising: a processor unit for processing computer readable data relevant to receiving the inductive energy and for processing data communications with a computer system, wherein the processor unit is programmed to operate in a polling listening mode; a pickup coil controlled by the processor unit to receive an inductive data communication by listening for an inductive source to alternate between an energized state and a de-energized stage at regular intervals while in the polling listening mode and configured for receiving the inductive energy; a charger operatively coupled to the processor unit and the pick-up coil, the charger configured to output a direct current powered by the inductive energy and relevant to the inductive data communication; and a battery configured for receiving the direct current.

2. The battery pack in accordance with claim 1 , in which the processor unit is configured to provide authentication data for inductive energy charging.

3. The battery pack in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a communications device operatively coupled to the pickup coil.

4. The battery pack in accordance with claim 3 , in which the communications device is configured to receive the computer readable data and transmit the data to the pick up coil.

5. The battery pack in accordance with claim 1 , in which the processor unit is configured to provide a plurality of charging parameters to a charging source which provides the inductive energy.

6. The battery pack in accordance with claim 1 , in which the processor unit is configured to provide a digital security certificate to a charging source.

7. The battery pack in accordance with claim 1 , in which the processor unit is configured to send data to the computer system so as to indicate it is receiving inductive energy.

8. The battery pack in accordance with claim 2 , further comprising an antenna and a communications device configured to receive the computer readable data and configured to transmit the data to the antenna for wireless data communications to a charging source.

9. A computer implemented method of charging a battery with a battery pack having a processor unit for processing computer readable data, comprising the steps of: using the processor unit to control a pickup coil in the battery pack to receive an inductive polling message while operating in a polling listening mode by listening for an inductive charging source to alternate between an energized and a de-energized state at a regular intervals transmitting from the battery pack a request for power to the charging source responsive to the polling message; receiving at the battery pack inductive power from the charging source responsive to the transmitted request; displaying an object on a graphical user interface, in response to the step of receiving, in order to visually indicate that external power is being received, wherein the displayed object visually differentiates between the battery pack receiving external inductive power and external utility power; generating a direct current in the battery pack responsive to the received inductive power; and using the direct current to charge the battery.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9 , in which the step of transmitting includes a step of transmitting charging parameters to the charging source.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9 , in which the step of transmitting includes a step of transmitting authenticating data to the charging source.

12. The method in accordance with claim 9 , further including a step of initiating a charger responsive to the step of receiving.

13. The method in accordance with claim 9 , further including a step of transmitting data to a computer system for indicating the step of receiving inductive power.

14. The method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the step of displaying an object on a graphical user interface includes displaying an icon.

15. The battery pack of claim 1 wherein the inductive data communication includes a polling message including a header and a payload.

16. The battery pack of claim 15 wherein the payload includes at least one of an operating parameter and authentication information and wherein the authentication information includes a security certificate.

17. The battery pack of claim 16 , wherein the payload includes at least one of an operating parameter and authentication information and wherein the authentication information includes a digital signature.

18. The method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the battery pack includes a coil, and the polling message and inductive power are received via the coil.

19. The method in accordance with claim 9 , further comprising: receiving an inductive data communication from the charging source.